The Alameda Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD) held a grand opening ceremony for the new Estuary Park last Saturday, Jan. 20.

The eight-acre park is located at 200 Mosley St. on the estuary side just east of Alameda Point and the Main Street Ferry Terminal. The park is built on land that was conveyed from the Navy to the City of Alameda in 2009.

Several Alameda dignitaries spoke at the event including Mayor Trish Spencer, Alameda Little League Board President Ron Matthews and ARPD director Amy Wooldridge. Also in attendance was Stomper, the Oakland A’s mascot.

“These new fields are a tremendous asset to Alameda’s youth sports community and create many firsts for our parks system — a city football field, lighted synthetic turf field that can be played in any weather, year-round, and a fully accessible field,” said Wooldridge. “The Challenger Field provides equal opportunities for all children to play sports. It is part of the Alameda Recreation and Parks Department’s comprehensive effort to create and sustain inclusive play opportunities for children of all abilities.”

The park was built on a part of the former Alameda Naval Air Station that was dormant for years. After a $2 million renovation, the park now has a lighted, synthetic turf field for soccer, football, lacrosse and rugby, and it also has a synthetic baseball diamond specifically designed to be accessible for children with disabilities.

When fully completed, four acres of the park will be designated as an inclusive playground, and will include a group picnic pavilion and small picnic areas, a large and small dog park, an open grass area and basketball courts.

Also at the event were members of the Alameda Little League Challenger Division. They posed with Wooldridge and Spencer, then took part in a two-inning demonstration game on the new field.

The park is part of ARPD’s effort to create an inclusive play area for all children. Construction was funded by the city with grant funding from the Alameda Housing Authority, East Bay Regional Park District Measure WW, Catellus, Alameda Little League, and the California Housing and Community Development Department. Measure WW, which Alameda and Contra Costa county voters approved in November 2008, brought in $500,000, while $1 million came from the Housing Authority.

Groundbreaking for the park took place in 2016.

Dennis Evanosky &nbsp&nbsp The Estuary Park baseball diamond got some immediate use after the official ribbon cutting last Saturday. The park is set against the estuary’s maritime industry where the tall-masted ship Balclutha is undergoing restoration at Bay Ship & Yacht.